a

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Mapping of Cultural Heritage

actions in European Union

policies, programmes and activities

Latest update: May 2017

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This mapping exercise aims to contribute to the development of a strategic approach to

the preservation and valorisation of European heritage. It was prepared in response to

the "Conclusions on cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a sustainable Europe"

adopted by the Council of the European Union on 20th May 2014, and complements the

European Commission Communication "Towards an integrated approach to cultural

heritage for Europe", published on 22nd July 2014. The document provides a wide (but

not exhaustive) range of useful information about recent policy initiatives and support

actions undertaken by the European Union in the field of cultural heritage.

Table of Contents

1. CULTURE ..................................................................................... 5

1.1 EU policy / legislation ................................................................................ 5

Council Work Plan for Culture 2015-2018 ........................................................ 5

1.1.1 Priority Area A: Accessible and inclusive culture ...................................... 5

1.1.2 Priority Area B: Cultural heritage ........................................................... 5

1.1.3 Priority Area C: Cultural and Creative Sectors: creative economy and

innovation ................................................................................................... 6

1.1.4 Priority area D: Promotion of Cultural Diversity, culture in the EU external

relations and mobility ................................................................................... 6

1.1.5 Cross-sectorial Priority: Cultural statistics ............................................... 7

1.2 EU programmes / funding .......................................................................... 7

1.2.1 European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 ................................................ 7

1.2.2 Creative Europe programme (2014-2020) .............................................. 8

1.2.3 Special actions relevant to the heritage sector, supported under the Creative

Europe programme ...................................................................................... 8

2. EDUCATION ................................................................................ 10

2.1 ERASMUS+ programme ............................................................................ 10

3. COHESION POLICY ........................................................................ 11

3.1 EU structural funds 2014-2020 .................................................................. 11

4. DIGITAL CULTURE ........................................................................ 13

4.1 EU policy / legislation ............................................................................... 13

4.1.1 Commission Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of

cultural material and digital preservation ....................................................... 13

4.1.2 Directive on the re-use of public sector information ................................ 14

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4.1.3 Commission Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana ...... 14

4.1.4 Film heritage ...................................................................................... 14

4.1.5 Improved copyright rules for cultural heritage ........................................ 14

4.2 EU programmes / funding ......................................................................... 15

4.2.1 EUROPEANA ....................................................................................... 15

4.2.2 Horizon 2020 programme .................................................................... 15

5. RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ............................................................ 16

5.1 EU policy / legislation ............................................................................... 16

5.1.1 European Research Infrastructures for Cultural Heritage .......................... 16

5.1.2 Joint Programming Initiative in Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPI CH)16

5.1.3 High Level Horizon 2020 Expert Group on "Cultural Heritage" .................. 17

5.1.4 CULTURALBASE – Social Platform on Cultural Heritage and European Identities

................................................................................................................ 17

5.2 EU programmes / funding ......................................................................... 17

5.2.1 Horizon 2020 programme .................................................................... 17

5.2.2 Other initiatives .................................................................................. 19

6. SCIENCE ................................................................................... 20

6.1. EU Policy / legislation .............................................................................. 20

6.1.1 Characterisation of the Europe’s top regions for creative and cultural industries

................................................................................................................ 20

6.1.2 Creativity related skills ........................................................................ 21

6.1.3 Exploring creativity teaching oriented approach ...................................... 21

6.1.4 European Cultural Index ...................................................................... 21

6.1.5 Cultural and Creative City Monitor 2016 ................................................ 22

7. INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ............... 22

7.1 EU policy / legislation ............................................................................... 22

7.1.1 Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from

the territory of a Member State .................................................................... 22

7.1.2. Commission Communication "Europe, the world's No.1 tourist destination - a

new political framework for tourism in Europe" ............................................... 23

7.1.3 Joint Programme European Union-Council of Europe (CoE) 2015-17 .......... 23

7.1.4 Testing new support approaches for sustainable tourism in rural areas and

access to cultural heritage under the European Mobile and Mobility Industries Alliance

and the European Creative Industries Alliance ................................................ 23

7.2. EU programmes / funding ........................................................................ 24

7.2.1 COSME Programme (2014-2020) and Cultural Tourism ........................... 24

7.2.2 Space Programme Copernicus (2014-2020) ........................................... 24

8. COMBATTING ILLICIT TRADE OF CULTURAL GOODS .................................. 25

8.1. EU policy / legislation .............................................................................. 25

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8.1.1 Export and import of cultural goods ...................................................... 25

8.1.2 Return of cultural objects to the Member State of origin .......................... 25

8.2. EU programmes / funding ........................................................................ 25

9. COMPETITION ............................................................................. 26

9.1 EU policy / legislation ............................................................................... 26

10. COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) ............................................ 26

10.1 EU policy / legislation .............................................................................. 26

10.2 EU programmes / funding ........................................................................ 27

11. MARITIME POLICY ....................................................................... 27

11.1. EU policy / legislation ............................................................................. 27

11.2. EU programmes / funding ....................................................................... 28

12. ENVIRONMENT POLICY ................................................................. 29

12.1 EU policy / legislation .............................................................................. 29

12.1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Directive ........................................ 29

12.1.2 Nature & Biodiversity ........................................................................ 29

12.2 EU programmes / funding ........................................................................ 30

13. CITIZENSHIP ............................................................................ 30

13.1 Europe for Citizens programme ................................................................ 30

14. EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT .......................................... 30

14.1 Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries ............................................. 30

14.1.1 EU programmes / funding .................................................................. 31

14.2 European Neighbourhood ........................................................................ 32

14.3 Eastern Neighbourhood ........................................................................... 32

14.3.1 EU policy / legislation ........................................................................ 32

14.3.2 EU programmes / funding .................................................................. 32

14.4 Southern Neighbourhood ......................................................................... 33

14.4.1 EU policy / legislation ........................................................................ 33

14.4.2 EU programmes / funding .................................................................. 33

14.5. Rest of the World .................................................................................. 34

14.5.1 EU policy / legislation ........................................................................ 34

14.5.2 EU programmes / funding .................................................................. 34

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1. CULTURE

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC)

1.1 EU policy / legislation

Council Work Plan for Culture 2015-2018

The Work Plan for Culture 2015-2018, adopted by the Council in December 2014, defined

four overarching priority areas for action, subdivided into three to four topics. Each topic

contains one to four action points as well as an indication of the outputs to be delivered

and the instruments to be used to that end. In addition, cultural statistics are a cross-

sectorial priority. Instruments and working methods include working groups of Member

States' experts meeting under the Open Method of Coordination (OMC), expert groups

convened by the Commission, stock-taking activities, studies and reports.

1.1.1 Priority Area A: Accessible and inclusive culture

The Open Method of Coordination groups (OMC) composed of Member State experts on

accessible and inclusive culture have been working on various key topics.

The OMC group on cultural expression and awareness, launched under the Council Work

Plan for Culture 2011-2014, completed its activities in 2015. The group delivered a

handbook of good practices and targeted recommendations on the development of

'cultural awareness and expression' as a key competence to integrate into education

policies, particularly in the context of lifelong learning.

An OMC group on improving access to culture via digital means (2015-2016) focuses on

the impacts of digital technologies on access, production and use of cultural content. In

addition, a sub-group of experts was established on promoting reading in the digital

environment. The sub-group published a policy handbook on e-reading, which considers

the digitisation of literary and textual cultural heritage. The report includes a mapping of

the regulatory framework, case studies from the EU and Member States – including one

on Europeana - and makes practical recommendations for both policy-makers and

stakeholders.

In addition, an OMC group on the contribution of culture to social inclusion commenced

work in 2017. Experts will map public policies dealing with social inclusion through

culture, identify good practices and draft recommendations for policy-makers and cultural

institutions.

1.1.2 Priority Area B: Cultural heritage

Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working groups

In a first phase, an OMC working group (composed of Member States' experts) is focused

on participatory governance of cultural heritage (2015-2016). In a second phase, the

work will focus on skills, training and knowledge transfer among the traditional and

emerging heritage professions (2017-2018). The groups will identify innovative

approaches to the multilevel governance of tangible, intangible and digital cultural

heritage, and map best practices in training schemes for heritage professionals.

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Study on Risk assessment and prevention for safeguarding

cultural heritage

The European Commission will undertake a mapping study of the existing strategies and

practices on risk assessment and prevention for safeguarding cultural heritage at national

level. Natural catastrophes (such as fires, floods, and earthquakes), as well as threats

caused by human action (over-exploitation, pollution, unsustainable development and

conflict) will be considered.

1.1.3 Priority Area C: Cultural and Creative Sectors: creative economy and

innovation

The OMC working groups (composed of Member States' experts) on Cultural and Creative

Industries have been working on various key topics.

Experts have identified and analysed alternative instruments to facilitate access to

finance for cultural and creative enterprises. The handbook 'Towards more efficient

financial ecosystems', published in 2015, reports on good practices in funding and

investment schemes for the cultural and creative sectors. Besides, the role of public

policies in developing the entrepreneurial and innovation potential of these sectors is

being explored by a specific OMC group. The group will deliver a manual of good

practices and recommendations for public authorities.

Finally, an OMC group on sustainable cultural tourism commenced work in March 2017.

Experts will identify ways to create a European tourism offer based on tangible and

intangible cultural heritage as a competitive factor to attract new forms of sustainable

tourism. The digitisation of cultural content, as well as methods and tools to increase

access to European cultural heritage will also be explored.

1.1.4 Priority area D: Promotion of Cultural Diversity, culture in the EU external

relations and mobility

Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working groups

In the context of the migratory and refugee crisis, an OMC working group (composed of

Member State experts) was introduced in 2015 through an amendment to the Work Plan.

The group is identifying and analysing the ways in which culture can help to foster social

inclusion, intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity. Experts are preparing a handbook

of good practices, focusing particularly on the integration of migrants and refugees in

societies through culture and the arts.

The launch of an OMC working group on improving circulation of European films is under

consideration. The group will identify complementarities between film policies and

support instruments at regional, national and EU level and will produce a manual of good

practices and recommendations.

Stock-taking meetings

In 2016, a stock-taking meeting on the mobility of artists and cultural professionals

within the EU and beyond was organised by the European Commission. The seminar

focused on the practical obstacles to mobility (taxation, social security and visas), while

also reflecting, in a broader sense, on the importance of cultural mobility for the creative

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process. A separate session focused on the question of providing information to mobile

artists and cultural professionals.

Other two stock-taking meetings are foreseen in the following years under Priority D.

One will take form of a report, on behalf on the European Commission, on the

implementation of the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of the

diversity of cultural expression. A second stock-taking meeting on the mobility of

collections will be organised in 2018, to coincide with the European Year of Cultural

Heritage.

Studies

The European Commission is undertaking two studies under Priority D. One analyses

current programmes addressing culture in countries of the European Neighbourhood

Policy, in the framework of Culture in EU's development cooperation policies. A second

study addresses the illicit trade of cultural objects, including EU import rules for cultural

objects illegally exported from third countries.

1.1.5 Cross-sectorial Priority: Cultural statistics

The production of reliable, comparable and up-to-date statistics on culture is a cross-

sectorial priority in the Work Plan for Culture. In this regard, Eurostat compiles statistics

from different harmonised EU data sources and publishes online statistics on cultural

employment, international trade of cultural goods, cultural enterprises, cultural

consumption and participation.

These indicators are also explored in the third edition (2016) of 'Culture Statistics', a

publication prepared by Eurostat with the support of the Directorate-General Education,

Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). In addition, the publication offers contextual data on

students in cultural fields, language learning and international mobility. Information on

EU and international initiatives concerning cultural heritage, such as European Capitals of

Culture, European Heritage Label and UNESCO's World Heritage List is also provided.

1.2 EU programmes / funding

1.2.1 European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018

On August 2016, following an invitation by the Culture Council (composed of the 28 EU

Culture Ministers), the European Commission presented a proposal to designate 2018 as

the 'European Year of Cultural Heritage'.

The objective of this initiative is to raise awareness of the opportunities that cultural

heritage brings to European societies, mainly in terms of intercultural dialogue, social

cohesion and economic growth. At the same time, the European Year aims at drawing

attention to the challenges that cultural heritage is facing, such as the impact of digital

shift, environmental and physical pressure on heritage site and illicit trade of cultural

objects.

In terms of measures to achieve its objectives, the Commission is proposing information

and promotion campaigns, events and initiatives to be taken at European, national,

regional and local levels. Individual Member States will likewise propose and coordinate

national activities, while the Commission is responsible for coordination at EU level.

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1.2.2 Creative Europe programme (2014-2020)

Creative Europe seeks to safeguard and promote cultural and linguistic diversity and to

strengthen the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors. Between 2007 and

2013, the Culture Programme –which Creative Europe has replaced– funded 130 co-

operation projects in the cultural heritage sector, for a total amount of about €40 million.

Creative Europe continues to offer opportunities to cultural heritage projects. It provides

more funding for artists and cultural professionals to develop their skills and to work

across borders; more funding for transnational cultural activities within and outside the

EU; support schemes tailored to the specific needs of the audiovisual and the cultural

sectors in the EU; easier access to private funding through a financial guarantee facility;

increased banking expertise in the cultural and creative sectors; and it helps develop

Europe’s competitiveness in culture and film while safeguarding cultural and linguistic

diversity.

The Creative Europe programme is one of the tools stimulating transnational cooperation

in the cultural heritage sector.

With a whole budget of €1.46 billion (€422 million for the Culture Sub-programme)

allocated for the period 2014-2020, the Creative Europe programme supports cross-

border projects in all fields of culture. In addition to grant-aiding individual projects, it

also supports special actions.

The programme is open to all creative and cultural organisations, from the EU Member

States, and also from a wide range of non-EU countries1.

1.2.3 Special actions relevant to the heritage sector, supported under the

Creative Europe programme

European Heritage Days (EHD)

Joint Action with the Council of Europe (CoE)

The European Heritage Days (EHD) is the most widely celebrated participatory cultural

event in Europe taking place every year in September. The Council of Europe launched

the initiative in 1985, which became a joint action co-organised with the European Union

in 1999. In both organisations, the programme is recognised as one of the main flagship

initiatives and an example of successful cooperation on European, national, regional and

local level. In the official EC website it is recognised as one of the three EU actions

specifically dedicated to cultural heritage.

The 50 signatory States to the European Cultural Convention take part in the European

Heritage Days by putting new cultural assets on view and opening up historical buildings

or sites normally closed to the public. The cultural events highlight local skills, traditions,

architectural styles and works of art that constitute shared European Heritage. Enabling

citizens to explore a wide range of cultural assets through a number of themed events,

European Heritage Days help uncover hidden histories of people and places that have

helped shaping the culture and heritage of Europe and promote mutual understanding

among citizens.

1 Details on the geographical coverage can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/creative-europe/calls/index_en.htm

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More than 20 million people are estimated to participate in the EHD every year. Within

each country, a network of regional and local authorities, civic and private groups and

thousands of volunteers are in charge of organising annual events. Each year the events

are organised around a special common theme. The participation of each country in the

celebration of a pan-European theme is optional, and national or local adaptation of the

theme is fully accepted. Countries which choose not to participate in the celebration of

the common theme can organise events around a special theme of their choice.

European Capitals of Culture (ECOC)

The European Capitals of Culture is one of the most ambitious cultural projects both in

scope and scale, and one of the best known and most appreciated by European citizens.

The aim of the initiative is to promote and celebrate Europe's rich cultural diversity and

shared aspects of our heritage, and thereby promote mutual understanding and

intercultural dialogue. The European Capitals of Culture are also a unique opportunity to

regenerate cities, to give new vitality to their cultural life, to boost their creativity and to

change their image. This contributes to the long-term development of European cities

and their regions.

There is no specific requirement mentioned in the ECOC legal basis concerning the role of

heritage in the Capitals. However, the title is an excellent opportunity to highlight the

wealth, diversity and common features of cultural heritage across Europe.

The cities get two benefits from the European Union: the title or “brand”, which is an

official EU designation, and a grant of €1.5 million. This is cost-effective as this amount is

only a small proportion of the funding for their cultural programmes, which in total vary

between €6 and €100 million. The amounts invested in capital expenditure have ranged

between €10 and €220 million, sometimes partly from the Structural Funds.

European Heritage Label (EHL)

The European Heritage Label is given to heritage sites that celebrate and symbolise

European history, ideals, and integration. These sites are carefully selected for the role

they have played in European history and the activities they offer to highlight it. The

Label gives to European citizens, especially young people, new opportunities to learn

about our common yet diverse cultural heritage, and about our common history. It

contributes to bring European citizens closer to the European Union. The European

Heritage Label can also help to increase cultural tourism, bringing significant economic

benefits.

The scheme was established by Decision 1194/2011/EU of the European Parliament and

of the Council. The Label is open to the participation of the Member States on a voluntary

basis.

Since 2013, 29 sites have been designated under the label: Neanderthal Prehistoric Site

and Krapina Museum (Krapina, Croatia), Heart of Ancient Athens (Athens, Greece),

Archaeological Site of Carnuntum, (Carnuntum, Austria), Abbey of Cluny (Cluny, France),

Olomouc Premyslid Castle and Archdiocesan Museum (Olomouc, Czech Republic), Archive

of the Crown of Aragon (Barcelona, Spain), Great Guild Hall (Tallinn, Estonia), Sagres

Promontory (Sagres, Portugal), General Library of the University of Coimbra (Coimbra,

Portugal), Imperial Palace (Vienna, Austria), Union of Lublin (Lublin, Poland), Sites of the

Peace of Westphalia (Münster and Osnabrück, Germany), 3 May 1791 Constitution

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(Warsaw, Poland), Historic Ensemble of the University of Tartu (Tartu, Estonia),

Hambach Castle (Hambach, Germany), Charter of Law of Abolition of the Death Penalty

(Lisbon, Portugal), Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Budapest, Hungary), Mundaneum

(Mons, Belgium), Peace Palace (The Hague, Netherlands), Residencia de Estudiantes

(Madrid, Spain), World War I Eastern Front Cemetery No. 123 (Łuzna-Putski, Poland),

Kaunas of 1919-1940 (Kauna, Lithuania), Camp Westerbork (Hooghalen, Netherlands),

Franja Partisan Hospital (Cerkno, Slovenia), European District of Strasbourg (Strasbourg,

France), Robert Schuman's House (Scy-Chazelles, France), Alcide de Gasperi’s House

Museum (Pieve Tesino, Italy), Historic Gdańsk Shipyard (Gdansk, Poland), Pan European

Picnic Memorial Park (Sopron, Hungary).

European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra

Awards

The EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards was launched in 2002 by the

European Commission in partnership with Europa Nostra. The prizes are awarded for

projects in the countries participating in the Creative Europe Programme. In the official

EC website, it is recognised as one of the three EU actions specifically dedicated to

cultural heritage.

The Prize celebrates and promotes excellence in cultural heritage work in Europe, raising

visibility of this among professionals, decision-makers and the general public. In this

way, it contributes to a stronger public recognition of cultural heritage as a strategic

resource for Europe’s society and economy. It also aims to promote high standards and

high-quality skills in conservation practice, to stimulate cross-border exchange of

knowledge among heritage professionals and to bring together different stakeholders in

wider networks throughout Europe.

Prizes are awarded in four categories: conservation; research; dedicated service by

individuals or organisations; and education, training and awareness-raising. The prize

consists of two award levels; a Grand Prix of €10,000 (awarded to up to seven entries),

and an Award, presented to up to 30 entries. There is also a Public Choice Award winner,

chosen by an online poll conducted by Europa Nostra.

2. EDUCATION

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC)

2.1 ERASMUS+ programme

The ERASMUS+ programme (2014-2020) aims to boost skills and employability through

education, training, youth, and sport. The programme provides opportunities for over 4

million Europeans to study, train, gain work experience, and volunteer abroad. It

supports many different types of activities of varying scales.

These include the European Voluntary Service, mobility for Adult Education staff,

Strategic Partnerships, Sector Skills Alliances, Knowledge Alliances, Youth Capacity

Building, and Transnational Youth Initiatives.

The main opportunities of relevance to the cultural heritage sector are the following,

strands under Key Action 2 of the Erasmus+ Programme - Cooperation for innovation

and the exchange of good practices:

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- Strategic partnerships These are transnational projects open to organisations active

in the fields of education, training or youth as well as enterprises, public authorities, and

civil society organisations (at least three organisations from three different programme

countries per partnership). The partnerships are intended to test, implement and

promote innovative practices leading to high quality teaching, training, learning and youth work, institutional modernisation and societal innovation.

- Capacity building in the field of higher education These are transnational

cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between higher education

institutions from programme countries (EU-33) and some partner countries. Non-

academic partners (such as cultural sector stakeholders who are explicitly eligible) can

take part in order to strengthen links with society and business. The idea is to involve the

most appropriate and diverse range of partners in order to benefit from their different

experiences. The emphasis is put on the international dimension and capacity building

particularly in partner countries (improving the quality of higher education and the level

of competences and skills enhancing its relevance for the labour market, modernisation of national policies and governance).

- Capacity building project in the field of youth These are transnational cooperation

projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active in the field of

youth, from programme countries (EU-33) and some partner countries. Non-academic

partners can take part (such as cultural sector stakeholders who are explicitly eligible).

Projects are intended to strengthen relations between the EU and the third countries by

providing young people and youth workers from Europe with the opportunity to take part

in exchanges and other non-formal education activities with their peers living outside the

Union.

- Knowledge Alliances. These are transnational, structured and result-driven projects,

between higher education and business partners (must involve at least six organisations

from three different programme countries (EU-33) – out of which at least two are higher

education institutions and two are enterprises. Knowledge Alliances are open to any

discipline, sector (including cultural and creative sectors) and to cross-sectorial

cooperation. They are intended to strengthen innovation capacity (creativity) and foster

innovation in higher education, business and the broader socio-economic environment.

- Sector Skills Alliances. These are transnational, multi-partner projects, intended to

design and deliver joint vocational training programmes and teaching and training

methodologies in a specific economic sector (can include cultural and creative sectors).

They must draw on evidence of trends and skills needed in order to perform in one or

more professional fields. A particular focus is put on work-based learning, providing

learners with the skills required by the labour market.

3. COHESION POLICY

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)

3.1 EU structural funds 2014-2020

Cultural heritage management is one of the investment priorities for the EU structural

and investment funds.

In the 2007-2013 period, out of a total of €347 billion for cohesion policy, the European

Regional Development Fund allocated €3.2 billion for the protection and preservation of

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cultural heritage, €2.2 billion for the development of cultural infrastructure and €553

million for cultural services, which also benefited cultural heritage.

Moreover, joint initiatives, such as the Joint European Support for Sustainable

Investment in City Areas (JESSICA), were developed by the Directorate General for

Regional Policy in co-operation with the European Investment Bank group and other

financial institutions in order to make cohesion policy more efficient and sustainable.

JESSICA, is an initiative of the European Commission developed in co-operation with the

European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB),

supporting sustainable urban development and regeneration through financial

engineering mechanisms.

In the 2014-2020 period, cultural heritage investments are possible under the specific

regulations of cohesion policy, whose overall budget is €325 billion. The relevant funds

are the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF),

the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and the European

Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). These can cover a wide spectrum of actors and

activities in the public and non-for-profit sectors as well as in the private sector in

particular benefitting small and medium-sized enterprises ‒SMEs.

The European Regional Development Fund regulation mentions specifically the

protection, promotion and development of cultural heritage among its investment

priorities under the objective "Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting

resource efficiency". In addition, there are funding opportunities under other thematic

objectives such as: research and innovation, information and communication

technologies (ICT), SME competitiveness, employment-friendly growth through the

development of endogenous potential, social inclusion and education and training.

Investments in small-scale cultural heritage should contribute both to the development of

endogenous potential and to the promotion of social inclusion, particularly among

marginalised communities, by improving their access to cultural and recreational services

in both urban and rural contexts.

These funding opportunities exist for mainstream Operational Programmes focusing on

individual countries or regions under the investment for jobs and growth goal of the

ERDF as well as for multi-country cooperation programmes under the European

Territorial Cooperation goal.

The European Social Fund mentions cultural and creative skills; the heritage sector can

indirectly address the aims of this fund.

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development continues to support

restoration, maintenance, and upgrading of cultural and natural heritage of villages, rural

landscapes and high nature value sites. The EAFRD also addresses related socio-

economic aspects, and environmental awareness actions; and is complemented by the

LEADER programme (Liaison entre actions de développement de l'économie rurale) which

funds actions for community-led local development. For more details, see section 11 on

the Common Agricultural Policy.

Within the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, under shared management, €57

billion are available for community-led local development projects that promote cultural

heritage (including maritime cultural heritage) in fisheries areas. Under direct

management (€647 million), a multi-resolution seabed map of European seas will be

produced including sites of cultural interest (with appropriate safeguards in the case of

sites in danger of looting). The map will be used for tourism-promotion purposes, but

also to ensure that such sites are not damaged by offshore developments. Thematic

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underwater cultural heritage routes will be developed, together with Nautical Routes

where links with touristic segments such as cultural heritage will be promoted. The

potential of tourism in Maritime Protected Areas, including in terms of underwater

cultural heritage will also be studied. For more details see section 11 of this document on

Maritime Policy.

In addition to the decentralised management of the structural funds, various EU

initiatives support cultural heritage in regions and cities, such as: INTERREG, URBACT,

etc.

4. DIGITAL CULTURE

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content &

Technology (DG CONNECT)

4.1 EU policy / legislation

4.1.1 Commission Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility

of cultural material and digital preservation

The Commission Recommendation 2011/711/EU on the digitisation and online

accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation, adopted on 27th October 2011

calls for concerted action by Member States to digitise and preserve their cultural

heritage, to make it available online for leisure, studies or work and for re-use in creative

efforts (e.g. in tourism or for education). The calls on Member States inter alia to

encourage their cultural institutions to make their digitised material available through

Europeana, to create the legal framework conditions underpinning licensing mechanisms

for the large-scale digitisation and cross-border accessibility of works that are out-of-

commerce and to promote the availability of databases with rights information,

connected at the European level, such as ARROW.

While the Orphan Works Directive2 and the Memorandum of Understanding on Out-of-

commerce Works3 aim at facilitating the digitisation and accessibility of copyrighted

material, the Recommendation on digitisation encourages public-private partnerships, as

well as the use of structural funds, to support digitisation. It also calls for the

reinforcement of national strategies for the long-term preservation of digital material.

In 2016, the Commission published a report assessing the overall progress in the

implementation of the recommendation. According to this evaluation, an increasing

number of countries are supporting open cultural heritage data and promoting its re-use.

Nevertheless, there are still great differences across Member States, and cultural

heritage digitisation remains widely dependent on cultural institutions' initiatives and

funding.

2 Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain permitted uses of orphan works 3 Memorandum of Understanding on Key Principles on the Digitisation and Making Available of Out-of-Commerce Works

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4.1.2 Directive on the re-use of public sector information

The Directive 2013/37/EU (amending Directive 2003/98/EC) adopted on 26 June 2013

lays down the general principle that documents from libraries, museums and archives

shall be re-usable for commercial and non-commercial purposes, and promotes

availability in open, machine-readable format together with metadata and the use of

open standards.

4.1.3 Commission Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana

The Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana (DCHE)4 was set up in

March 2017 as a continuation of the Member States' Expert Group on Digitisation and

Digital Preservation5. It will continue to serve as a platform for monitoring progress in

Member States with regards to the implementation of the Commission Recommendation

on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation

(2011/711/EU), as a forum for cooperation between Member States bodies and the

Commission at European level and to exchange information and good practices of

Member States' policies and strategies. It will further give guidance on Europeana, in

particular the general objectives, priorities for actions and the envisaged level of funding

to be proposed for Europeana.

4.1.4 Film heritage

The Commission has recommended the Member States6 to systematically collect,

preserve, restore and facilitate cultural and educational uses of film heritage7. Every two

years, they send to the Commission some information on what they have done; the

fourth Implementation Report is under preparation at this stage.

The Digital Agenda for European Film Heritage study identifies research areas to improve

film archive stability, durability and archive content security, including open-source

systems, architectures optimised to preserve film collections, stable digital formats and

cloud-based storage, access and content security systems.

In addition, a Cinema Expert Group/Subgroup film heritage was set up by the

Commission to facilitate exchange of best practices in this area, with experts from

Member States and industry.

4.1.5 Improved copyright rules for cultural heritage

The Communication, adopted in May 2015, in which the Commission outlines a Strategy

to achieve a Digital Single Market, identified the need to reduce the differences between

national copyright regimes to ensure a better functioning of the applicable rules across

borders and to allow for wider online access to protected content across the EU. On this

basis, in December 2015 the Commission presented a Communication, ‘Towards a

modern, more European copyright framework’, outlining an action plan for the

4 Commission Decision C(2017)1444 of 7th March 2017 5https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/member-states-expert-group-digitisation-digital-preservation

6 Recommendation 2005/865/EC on film heritage and the competitiveness of related industrial activities

7 Implementation report on the recommendation on film heritage.

15

modernisation of EU copyright rules. Among the initiatives presented as part of this

action plan, the proposal for a Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (COM

(2016) 593) published on 14th September 2016 is especially relevant to the objective of

supporting digital innovation for cultural heritage. The proposed Directive provides for a

legal mechanism to facilitate collective licensing agreements for the dissemination and

digitisation of out of commerce works (e.g. books that publishers have stopped printing

and selling) held by cultural heritage institutions. This will reduce transaction costs and

help cultural heritage institutions to digitise their collections. The legislative proposal also

includes a mandatory EU-wide exemption which gives cultural heritage institutions the

right to copy works in a way that is suitable for the digital environment. This will cover

works that were created directly in digital form, and the digitisation of works in analogue

formats, and help audiences to have access to them for longer.

4.2 EU programmes / funding

4.2.1 EUROPEANA

Europeana, Europe’s digital platform for cultural heritage, was set up in 2008 and today

provides access to over 54 million items, (including image, text, sound, video and 3D

material) from the collections of over 3,700 libraries, archives, museums, galleries and

audio-visual collections from all over Europe. As such, it is a resource for accessing and

reusing culture online, having contributed strongly to the development and

implementation of standards and interoperability in this area. It showcases also how

Europeans can actively engage with their cultural heritage and contribute their own

memorabilia, e.g. from landmark historical events such as World War I. Cooperation with

Twitter or Facebook allows Europeana to engage with new audiences through their

favourite social media platforms.

Under the Connecting Europe Facility, Europeana is funded by the EU as a Digital Service

Infrastructure that makes culture widely accessible and provides data, technology, tools

and services to Europe’s cultural heritage sector and the creative industries.

The Council Conclusions on the role of Europeana for the digital access, visibility and use

of European cultural heritage8, adopted by the European Youth, Culture and Sports

Council on 31st May 2016, confirm Member States' continued support for Europeana,

recognise Europeana's relevance both from a cultural as well as a digital innovation

perspective, identify challenges to be addressed and provide recommendations to

Member States, the Commission and Europeana.

4.2.2 Horizon 2020 programme

Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation,

encompasses activities and opportunities linked with information & communications

technologies for cultural heritage under Societal Challenge 6 "Europe in a Changing

World: Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies", in particular in the areas of:

advanced 3D modelling for accessing and understanding European cultural assets

(REFLECTIVE-7-2014), innovation ecosystems of digital cultural assets (REFLECTIVE-6-

8 http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9643-2016-INIT/en/pdf

16

2015), virtual museums and social platforms on European digital heritage, memory,

identity and cultural interaction (CULT-COOP-08-2016), European cultural heritage,

access and analysis for a richer interpretation of the past (CULT-COOP-09-2017).

5. RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Responsible DGs: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) primarily

5.1 EU policy / legislation

5.1.1 European Research Infrastructures for Cultural Heritage

European (and international) multidisciplinary cultural heritage research requires

European research infrastructure facilities. Such European research facilities are long-

term projects. These European research infrastructures provide training of scientists and

engineers and promote knowledge transfer and development of innovative techniques

and instrumentation, so much needed in the preservation and restoration of cultural

heritage. The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures – ESFRI – identifies

Research Infrastructures (RIs) of pan-European interest meeting the long-term needs of

Europe’s research communities across all scientific areas including social and cultural

innovation. The ESFRI Roadmap 2016 includes currently three projects relevant to

Cultural Heritage. Two are already delivering services or effectively advancing in their

construction. Both of these projects are European facilities of a distributed nature (multi-

national associations of geographically-separated distinct entities that jointly perform,

facilitate, or sponsor basic or applied scientific research) and are based on the EU

Regulation, the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC); Digital Research

Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities (DARIAH ERIC) and Common Language

Resources and Technology Infrastructure (CLARIN ERIC). One entirely new project was

listed in the Roadmap update 2016: European Research Infrastructure for Heritage

Science (ERIHS), which is expected to reach implementation within the next ten years.

While the role of the Member States is crucial in the construction and long term operation

of the ESFRI projects, the Horizon 2020 research infrastructure action supports the

emergence and the implementation of these pan-European research infrastructures.

http://www.esfri.eu/roadmap-2016

5.1.2 Joint Programming Initiative in Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPI

CH)

The Commission Recommendation (2010/238/EU) of 26th of April 2010 encourages

Member States to "develop a common strategic research agenda establishing medium to

long-term research needs and objectives in the area of preservation and use of cultural

heritage in the context of global change". The Joint Programming Initiative in Cultural

Heritage is an innovative and collaborative research initiative, with EU support, intended

to ensure reinforced coordination between Member States, Associated and Third

Countries to help achieve the European Research Area (ERA) in the field of cultural

heritage. The initiative helps streamline and coordinate national research programmes to

enable more efficient and effective use of scarce financial resources, exploit synergies

and avoid duplication. Through the launch of a common joint call between participating

Member States, sixteen transnational R&I projects on tangible, intangible and digital

heritage have been funded.

17

http://www.jpi-culturalheritage.eu

5.1.3 High Level Horizon 2020 Expert Group on "Cultural Heritage"

In 2015 the report of the Horizon 2020 Expert Group on Cultural Heritage 'Getting

cultural heritage to work for Europe'9 was published. The Expert Group, set up in 2014 to

assist the Commission in framing a renewed R&I agenda for cultural heritage, mainly

argues that the EU should promote an innovative use of cultural heritage, considered as

a fundamental resource for the future. The strategic advice provided by the Expert

Group includes recommendations on how to stimulate new services linked to cultural

heritage, regarded as a production factor for the economy as well as a catalyst for social

cohesion and environmental sustainability. These new and future-oriented R&I

orientations are in line with the Commission communication 'Towards an integrated

approach to cultural heritage for Europe'10 and the related Council conclusions and EP

report.

5.1.4 CULTURALBASE – Social Platform on Cultural Heritage and European

Identities

The CULTURALBASE – Social Platform on Cultural Heritage and European Identities (topic

REFLECTIVE-9-2014 of Horizon 2020) brings together researchers, stakeholders and

policy-makers to address policy issues in a comprehensive way. It has the objective to

identify and analyse some of the main debates and controversies around culture, in

particular in relation to heritage and European identities. The platform also supports the

European Commission in the definition of an innovative and focused research agenda in

these thematic fields.

Duration: 2015-2017

www.culturalbase.eu

5.2 EU programmes / funding

5.2.1 Horizon 2020 programme

Since 1986 the EU has supported cultural heritage research within the framework of its

research framework programmes mainly under the environment theme. Under the

Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7),

around €180 million was invested in projects related to key aspects of cultural heritage,

addressing cultural interactions, museums, identities and linguistic diversity, dedicated

research infrastructures and, developing materials for the protection, conservation and

restoration of cultural heritage assets, predictive models, early warning devices,

technologies for adaptation and mitigation strategies, tackling energy efficiency of

historic buildings and strengthening collaboration and cooperation between member

states and non-EU countries.

9 "Getting cultural heritage to work for Europe". Report of the Horizon 2020 expert group on cultural heritage"

European Commission, 2015. http://bookshop.europa.eu/fr/getting-cultural-heritage-to-work-for-europe-pbKI0115128/ 10 COM(2014) 477 http://ec.europa.eu/culture/library/publications/2014-heritage-

communication_en.pdf

18

Horizon 2020 is the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, (€80

billion for 2014-2020). Support for heritage-related research is available in the three

pillars of the programme: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership, and Societal

Challenges. In the latter, Challenge 6 "Europe in a changing world: Inclusive, Innovative

and Reflective Societies" mainly focuses on the transmission of European cultural

heritage, cultural literacy, identity formation, heritage of the shared and often troubled

European past, European collections of archives, cultural landscapes, museums and

libraries and digital opportunities. Challenge 5 "Climate action, environment, resource

efficiency and raw materials" addresses solutions for tangible heritage, considered as a

fundamental resource to improve urban and rural environments facing climate change

impacts. Particular emphasis is placed on multidisciplinary research and innovation for

the valorisation, enhancement and re-use of cultural heritage through innovative

methodologies, products and services. Large demonstration projects for urban and rural

regeneration have been launched to test innovative solutions in the field.

The Horizon 2020 programme allows major steps to be taken by European research and

innovation in the field of cultural heritage preservation, restoration and valorisation. The

programme also funds innovative and sustainable business models of SMEs in the

cultural heritage field.

Relevant funding strands include:

H2020 EXCELLENT SCIENCE:

Grants for frontier research in all scientific fields (including cultural heritage) at

the European Research Council

Marie-Sklodowska Curie grants for international mobility and cooperation in all

scientific fields (including cultural heritage)

H2020 INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP:

NMBP 05-2017 Advanced materials and innovative design for improved

functionality and aesthetics in high added value consumer goods

NMBP 35-2017: Innovative solutions for the conservation of 20th century cultural

heritage

NMP-21-2014 Materials-based solutions for the protection or preservation of

European cultural heritage

H2020 SOCIETAL CHALLENGES

Societal Challenge 5 calls:

SC5-21-2016/2017: Cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable growth: heritage-

led urban regeneration (2016) and heritage-led rural regeneration (2017) - large

scale demonstration projects – innovation actions

SC5-22-2017: Innovative financing, business and governance models for adaptive

re-use of cultural heritage – research and innovation actions

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Horizon 2020 dedicated SME Instrument 2016-2017 (proposals for SMEs on

cultural heritage are eligible)

Societal Challenge 6 - Call – Understanding Europe - promoting the European public and

cultural space

CULT-COOP-02-2017: Improving mutual understanding among Europeans by

working through troubled pasts

CULT-COOP-03-2017: Cultural literacy of young generations in Europe

CULT-COOP-04-2017: Contemporary histories of Europe in artistic and creative

practices

CULT-COOP-05-2017: Religious diversity in Europe - past, present and future

CULT-COOP-06-2017: Participatory approaches and social innovation in culture

CULT-COOP-07-2017: Cultural heritage of European coastal and maritime regions

CULT-COOP-09-2017: European cultural heritage, access and analysis for a richer

interpretation of the past

CULT-COOP-10-2017: Culture, integration and European public space

CULT-COOP-12-2017: The significance of cultural and core values for the

migration challenge

H2020 OPEN SME INSTRUMENT CALLS

SMEinst-12-2016-2017: Boosting the potential of small businesses in the areas

and priorities of Societal Challenge 5, where proposals for SMEs on cultural

heritage for sustainable growth are eligible.

SMEInst-62-2016-2017-SC6-CULT-COOP: New business models for inclusive,

innovative and reflective societies, where proposals for SMEs in creative sectors

and cultural heritage are eligible.

5.2.2 Other initiatives

Horizon 2020 Prizes

A Horizon 2020 Inducement Prize on valorising the potential of cultural heritage for

sustainable development was launched in 2016. This prize is in line with new orientations

on Research & Innovation for cultural heritage, which position cultural heritage as a

source of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth. It offers a reward to those who most

effectively meet a future challenge on cultural heritage in the area of energy and

promoting heritage-led innovations in European communities.

Another Horizon 2020 Prize to open up cultural heritage to all will be launched by the end

of 2017 to stimulate innovative solutions to reinforcing everyone’s right to experience

and enjoy cultural heritage, with special attention to young people, minorities and people

with special needs. Solutions will be replicable throughout Europe and beyond.

20

Public-Private Partnership on "Energy-efficient Buildings"

In the past, other funding opportunities were linked to the Public-Private Partnership

(PPP) on "Energy-efficient Buildings", launched by the European Commission in

cooperation with industrial partners as part of the European Economic Recovery Plan.

Since 2008, it has managed to attract high industrial participation and has helped to

innovate the building sector, including historic buildings. Under Horizon 2020, the PPP

aims to develop affordable breakthrough technologies and solutions both at an individual

building and district scale, paving the way for future smart cities.

Community of innovators and EU R&I ambassadors on

cultural heritage

The Community will gather innovators, practitioners, experts, and stakeholders at the

international level. It will build upon the results of the European Year of Cultural Heritage

and further develop them through a platform (launch foreseen at the end of 2018).

Inputs for the creation of the network will be collected at RTD level, as discussed in the

last intra-RTD cultural heritage group (12th July 2016).

6. SCIENCE

Responsible DG: Joint Research Centre (DG JRC)

6.1. EU Policy / legislation

The Council Conclusions on "cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a sustainable

Europe” of 20th May 2014 recognise that “cultural heritage has an important economic

impact, including as an integral part of the cultural and creative sectors” and calls on

Member States and the Commission to “improve the collection and analysis of qualitative

evidence and quantitative data” on broadly understood cultural heritage.

The JRC is currently investigating the importance of the Cultural and Creative Industries

(CCI) to economic growth, with different research projects. The first – based on a

qualitative and quantitative study – aims to identify common features of European

regions with the highest concentration of CCI. The latter two are data driven statistical

analyses that aim to explore the standing of Europe relative to the US and Japan with

respect to (1) 21st century competences (with creative thinking included) and (2) the

preferential teaching approach of teachers (with the approach centred on students’

conceptual change included).

6.1.1 Characterisation of the Europe’s top regions for creative and cultural

industries

JRC conducts a qualitative and quantitative research project aimed at analysing the

characteristics of some of Europe’s top regions for creative and cultural industries,

ultimately seeking to find some regional conditions to explain the higher concentration of

CCI in those regions. A documentary analysis is being conducted to study the historical,

geographical and social characteristics of these regions, complemented by a quantitative

analysis. Regarding the quantitative analysis, JRC’s aim is to be able to characterise

some of the European regions with high concentrations of CCI taking into account region

21

indicators, for instance, life satisfaction rate, lifelong learning, skilled migrants, and the

age profile of the population.

6.1.2 Creativity related skills

As various scholars claim that innovative societies also become successful in economic

development, JRC intends to investigate skills and competences related to creativity and

other 21st century life skills because creativity is not only what enables us to come up

with new ideas (whatever the field), it is also the skill that enables us to deal with new

situations or problems never before confronted. This research is of an exploratory nature.

Its aim is to work out the profiles of competences of adults taking into consideration both

(1) skills (e.g. communication, mathematical, problem-solving, interpersonal, using

technology) and (2) types of thinking derived from the psychological theories (e.g.

practical abilities, crystallised analytical, fluid analytical and creative abilities). The

method to be applied is a multivariate statistical modelling of latent variable, e.g. latent

class modelling or item response modelling, the dataset to be used comes from the

Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Subject to

an adequate sample size and the representativeness of the results, these profiles are to

be compared:

1. Across countries and regions – this will allow the standing of Europe relative to the

US and Japan to be determined;

2. Across different type of industries – this will allow the standing of the CCI relative to

other industries to be determined;

6.1.3 Exploring creativity teaching oriented approach

The conclusions from the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council meeting (20th May

2014) emphasise the strong contribution of cultural heritage, which includes CCI, to the

achievement of the EU 2020 strategy goals for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Council of the European Union calls on member states and the commission to

“continue to promote education on cultural heritage, raise public awareness on the

potential of cultural heritage for sustainable development and to encourage public

participation, especially of children and young people, in cooperation with civil society”.

Knowing that research on the preconditions for developing creativity suggests that the

environment in which students learn is crucial and that teachers play a key role in

structuring and maintaining this environment, JRC is conducting a project aimed at

constructing the scale of a creativity oriented approach based on the Teaching and

Learning International Survey (TALIS) data and to define socio-economic characteristics

of ‘creative class’ among teachers. Subject to an adequate sample size and the

representativeness of the results, the attitudes presented by teachers can be compared

across countries and regions – this will allow the standing of Europe relative to the US

and Japan to be determined.

6.1.4 European Cultural Index

The JRC also supports the European Cultural Foundation and the Boekman Foundation in

constructing the European Cultural Index (ECI). Namely, the JRC provides statistical

expertise in the construction process and will perform the statistical audit of the ECI. The

audit comprises methodological tests of the suitability, reliability and robustness of the

composite index.

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6.1.5 Cultural and Creative City Monitor 2016

The JRC is working on the development of the Cultural and Creative City Monitor (C3

Monitor), a tool that allows the measurement and benchmarking of cultural and creative

activities in European cities as well as assessing the social and economic impacts of these

activities on urban milieus. The tool aims to support policy-makers in drafting and

evaluating policies on culture and creativity and in identifying specialisation strategies for

cities.

7. INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Responsible DG: Directorate-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and

SMEs (DG GROW)

7.1 EU policy / legislation

7.1.1 Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects unlawfully

removed from the territory of a Member State

Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the return of

cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State was adopted on

15 May 2014. As was already the case with the previous Directive 93/7/EEC, the new

Directive is an internal market measure aimed at contributing to the protection of

Member States' cultural heritage in a space without internal frontiers.

Directive 2014/60/EU, which came into force as of 19th December 2015, aims to ensure

the return within the EU of any cultural object classified or defined by a Member State as

being among the "national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value"

under national legislation or administrative procedures within the meaning of Article 36

TFEU.

As was the case with Directive 93/7/EEC, Directive 2014/60/EU provides for cooperation

mechanisms and return proceedings against the possessor to secure the physical return

of a cultural object unlawfully removed from the territory of one EU country to the

territory of another Member State on or after 1st January 1993.

Directive 2014/60/EU foresees the use of the Internal Market Information system (IMI)

to facilitate the administrative cooperation and exchange of information among the

national authorities in charge of the Directive. With a view to preventing and combatting

crime concerning cultural objects, the Directive stipulates that, in case of return, the

possessor must demonstrate that he exercised due care and attention when acquiring the

cultural object for obtaining compensation.

In order to carry out the tasks provided for in the Directive, each Member State should

appoint one or more authorities. The list of those central authorities is regularly

published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Moreover, the Commission set up

an expert group, composed of representatives from the Member States, to facilitate the

exchange of experiences and good practices among Member States on the

implementation of the Directive.

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7.1.2. Commission Communication "Europe, the world's No.1 tourist destination

- a new political framework for tourism in Europe"

The Communication on "Europe, the world's No.1 tourist destination ‒ a new political

framework for tourism in Europe" was adopted by the Commission in June 2010. It

encourages a coordinated approach to initiatives linked to tourism and defines a new

framework for action to increase its competitiveness and its capacity for sustainable

growth, thus implying the promotion of cultural tourism as a driver for sustainable social

and economic development and the identification of good practices in sustainable

management of cultural tourism, including tangible and intangible heritage.

7.1.3 Joint Programme European Union-Council of Europe (CoE) 2015-17

The Joint Programme on Cultural Routes between the Council of Europe and

the European Commission supports the European cultural tourism strategy. Already in

2010, a joint study signalled the enormous potential of the European Cultural Routes for

small business generation and clustering, but identified, among other challenges, a weak

brand image and marketing strategies. During the 2015-17 period, the main goals of the

Joint Programme are to increase the visibility and quality of the Routes. As part of this

cooperation action, representatives of Cultural Routes, field professionals and European

representatives will meet to exchange good practices and knowledge on crucial topics

regarding the management of the Routes.

7.1.4 Testing new support approaches for sustainable tourism in rural areas and

access to cultural heritage under the European Mobile and Mobility Industries

Alliance and the European Creative Industries Alliance

Under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, three large-scale demonstration

projects (CultWays, LIMES and GrowMobile) were launched under the European Mobile

and Mobility Industries Alliance (EMMIA) to test and demonstrate better support to

sustainable tourism in rural areas, where innovative mobile solutions could be used to

facilitate access to cultural heritage sites, to better inform tourists of the many but often

dispersed activities in a region and/or to offer smarter solutions. The three large-scale

demonstration projects addressed information, location, access and safety needs for

tourists in Europe who wish to visit cultural heritage sites and routes that are off the

beaten track. They developed and tested scalable and transferable concepts for

providing mobile services for tourists. They were implemented between 2012 and 2013

through public-private partnerships and in close collaboration with local tourism agencies,

authorities and businesses in rural areas with valuable but under-exploited cultural

heritage. For more information, see http://www.mobilise-europe.mobi/large-scale-

demonstrators-real-live-testing/

In addition, two European Creative Districts (Creative Wallonia in Belgium and CREATE in

Tuscany, Italy) were launched in 2013 with the aim of demonstrating the transformative

power of the creative industries for the rejuvenation of traditional industrial regions. The

‘Creative District’ project was an initiative of the European Parliament and was

implemented through two grant agreements by the European Commission’s Enterprise

and Industry Directorate-General. The action programme ended in 2015. The European

Creative Districts were linked to and are contributing to the policy discussions of the

European Creative Industries Alliance. This initiative was set up in 2012 to develop and

test new policies and tools for better business support, better access to finance and

facilitating cluster excellence and networking for the further development of creative

industries and for promoting linkages with other industries. For more information, see

http://www.eciaplatform.eu/project/creative-districts/

24

7.2. EU programmes / funding

7.2.1 COSME Programme (2014-2020) and Cultural Tourism

European cultural routes

The Commission supports projects promoting sustainable thematic tourism products,

which have the potential to contribute to sustainable tourism growth (linked to, for

instance, cultural routes crossing several countries on different topics, cycling paths, eco-

tourism products, historical, religious-pilgrim tourism, tourism capitalising on the

maritime and sub-aquatic cultural heritage, industrial heritage, etc.).

The Commission is also working with UNESCO to develop trans-European Cultural Routes

around UNESCO World Heritage sites (i.e. Royal Europe, Romantic Europe, Ancient

Europe and Underground Europe) and with UNWTO on Western Silk Road tourism

development.

Diversification of the tourism offer through synergies with

creative and high-end industries

A call for proposals to support the promotion and development of transnational thematic

tourism products linked to cultural and creative industries (CCI) was published at the end

of April 2017. A particular focus is put on tourism products

(routes/itineraries/trains/tourism offers) capitalising on European cultural heritage and

CCI-related technologies in promoting these tourism products and enhancing the visitor

experience.

EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence

The initiative "EDEN – European Destinations of Excellence", launched in 2006, draws

attention to the values, diversity and common features of European tourist destinations.

It enhances the visibility of emerging European destinations, creates a platform for

sharing good practices across Europe and promotes networking between awarded

destinations. National competitions take place every second year and result in the

selection of a tourist "destination of excellence" (EDEN award) for each participating

country. The key feature of the selected destinations is their commitment to social,

cultural and environmental sustainability. This European quest for excellence in tourism

is developed around an annual theme, chosen by the Commission together with the

relevant national tourism bodies. So far, rural tourism, intangible heritage and protected

areas, aquatic tourism, regeneration of physical sites, accessible tourism and local

gastronomy have been the main EDEN themes. 140 winning destinations and up to 350+

runners-up from 27 different European countries have been selected since 2007. In

2017, EDEN is focused on cultural tourism, i.e. destinations which have developed a

specific tourism offer based on their local tangible cultural assets. For more information,

see http://edenineurope.eu

7.2.2 Space Programme Copernicus (2014-2020)

The Earth observation programme Copernicus provides a panoply of satellite data and

information enabling the monitoring and the protection of cultural heritage. A workshop

on the technical requirements for the activation of a dedicated portfolio of products in

support of cultural heritage was organised in April 2017, with the view to including this

25

line of services in the Copernicus Work Programme 2018. Some Copernicus awards, like

the Copernicus Masters, with focus on cultural heritage applications have already been

granted.

See: www.copernicus.eu and www.copernicus-masters.com/index

8. COMBATTING ILLICIT TRADE OF CULTURAL GOODS

Responsible DGs: Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD),

Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), Directorate-

General Internal Market and Services (DG GROW)

8.1. EU policy / legislation

8.1.1 Export and import of cultural goods

Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009 on the export of cultural goods (previous: Council

Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92)

Council Regulation 116/2009 on the export of cultural goods lays down provisions to

ensure that the export of cultural goods is subject to uniform controls at the Union's

external borders. It was adopted in view of the creation of the internal market in January

1993, in an attempt to reconcile the principle of free movement of goods and the need

for Member States to protect their national treasures.

The categories of cultural objects covered by the Regulation are listed in its Annex I. The

export of cultural goods outside the Union's customs territory is subject to the

presentation of an export licence.

The Commission Work Programme for 2017 provides that the Commission will present a

proposal targeting illicit trade in cultural goods. Work on a draft regulation has already

started (DG TAXUD) and the proposal is expected in the second quarter of 2017.

8.1.2 Return of cultural objects to the Member State of origin

The Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the

territory of a Member State seeks to ensure that Member States can obtain the physical

return of any cultural object identified as national treasure possessing artistic, historic or

archaeological value that was unlawfully removed from their territory on or after 1st

January 1993. This measure contributes therefore to the protection of Member States'

cultural heritage and to combating the illicit trade of cultural objects.

8.2. EU programmes / funding

In 2017-2018 the EU will finance a UNESCO-implemented action on engaging European

art market stakeholders in the fight against the illicit trade in cultural property. The

project will aim to reinforce due diligence conduct in the European art trade while alerting

relevant stakeholders to the implications of illicit trade in cultural property – from the

consequences for the protection of cultural heritage to the financing of terrorism and

money laundering. By doing so, the action will also enhance the capacity of European

States to protect cultural heritage within and beyond its borders in a more efficient way.

26

9. COMPETITION

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP)

9.1 EU policy / legislation

As part of the state aid rules review, the EU's Council of Ministers adopted a revision to

the enabling regulation on 22nd July 2013. This created the legal basis for the exemption

from notification for state aid for culture and heritage conservation.

The exemption is provided by the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), entered

into force in 2014. GBER provides conditions for exemption from the obligation to notify

state aid to – amongst others - culture and heritage conservation and audio-visual

sectors.

10. COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP)11

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)

10.1 EU policy / legislation

Launched in 1962, the overall aim of the CAP is to improve agricultural productivity so

that consumers have a stable supply of affordable food, and to ensure that EU farmers

can make a reasonable living.

One of the instruments of the CAP, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural

Development (EAFRD)12

aims to promote social inclusion, poverty reduction and

economic development in rural areas.

The EAFRD has supported the upgrading of rural cultural heritage and improved access to

cultural services in rural areas, by providing investment and training support to cultural

and creative businesses, which also promotes networking and the development of

clusters.

In 2007-2013 the EAFRD invested the following amounts:

1. Conservation and upgrading of rural heritage: €1,221,036,980

2. Support for the creation and development of micro-enterprises with a view to

promoting entrepreneurship and developing the economic fabric (€2,082,234,786).

In the 2013-2020 period, the EAFRD is still supporting cultural-heritage related activities

connected to two priority areas of intervention: (i) facilitating diversification, creation and

11 http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-overview/2012_en.pdf

12 Relevant provisions: Recital 18 natural and cultural heritage; Article 20 – Basic services and village renewal in rural areas: (1d): local basic services, including leisure and culture, and the related infrastructure; (1f) studies and investments associated with cultural and natural heritage

27

development of small enterprises, as well as job creation and (ii) fostering local

development in rural areas.

10.2 EU programmes / funding

Support for studies and investments associated with the maintenance, restoration

and upgrading of the cultural and natural heritage of villages, rural landscapes

and sites of high natural value, including related socio-economic aspects, as well

as environmental awareness actions

LEADER community-led local development – funds available to upgrade rural

cultural heritage and improve access to cultural services in rural areas

Business development (start-up aid for non-agricultural activities in rural areas

and related investments): business support for rural micro- and small businesses.

It provides start-up money of up to €70,000 for new businesses

Vocational training and skills acquisition

Examples of rural development projects are available on the European Network for Rural

Development website, searchable by theme, e.g.: culture / heritage.

11. MARITIME POLICY

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE)

11.1. EU policy / legislation

As part of EU's Blue Growth strategy COM(2012)494, the coastal and maritime tourism

sector has been identified as an area with special potential to foster a smart, sustainable

and inclusive Europe. European coastal and maritime heritage is, in particular, one of the

best tourism products Europe has to offer visitors and gives a competitive advantage

over other touristic regions of the globe. The Communication on a European Strategy for

Growth and Jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism COM(2014)86 "encourages the

diversification and integration of coastal and inland attractors, including through

transnational thematic itineraries like cultural, religious or ancient trade routes" (Action

11) and suggests Member States to "develop cultural heritage based tourism, underwater

archaeological parks (based on work done by UNESCO), and nature and health tourism in

coastal destinations". Delivering on this action in 2016 following a competitive procedure,

the Commission awarded three action grants to projects13 developing thematic routes on

underwater cultural heritage in European coastal waters. Furthermore, a call for the

creation of routes on nautical tourism was launched in November 2016. This call supports

13 ATAS - Ancient Traps of the Adriatic Sea https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/ancient-traps-adriatic-sea URCA - Underwater Cultural routes in antiquity https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/underwater-cultural-routes-antiquity NIRD - Western Black Sea Underwater cultural tourist routes

https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/western-black-sea-underwater-cultural-tourist-routes

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transnational projects that promote nautical tourism, including through association with

other thematic touristic segments, including maritime heritage promotion segments. The

results are expected in September 2017. Moreover, a study on the economic benefits of

Maritime Protected Areas (MPAs) was launched in the end of 2016. This study will seek

the potential of tourism in MPAs, including the potential of underwater cultural heritage in

these areas.

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) which is an initiative

from the European Commission (DG MARE) as part of its Marine Knowledge 2020

strategy, aims to provide better information on the whereabouts and nature of

underwater cultural heritage sites. The Commission intends to work towards a mapping

of maritime cultural heritage sites which will be completed by 2018. This multi-resolution

seabed map of European seas will be produced with appropriate safeguards for those

sites in danger of looting. This will be useful not only for tourism promotion but also by

raising tourists' awareness on the need to protect possible endangered sites.

11.2. EU programmes / funding

During the programming period 2007-2013, under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF);

funding of €43 billion was available for community-led local development in fisheries

areas. Projects promoting cultural heritage in coastal and inland fisheries areas were be

supported.

Building on the good practice developed during the implementation of the EFF, the

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund14 (EMFF), which is the fund for the EU's maritime

and fisheries policies for 2014-2020, promotes funding opportunities for community-led

local development projects in fisheries areas, under shared management, with a budget

of €57 billion: local development strategies can promote social well-being and cultural

heritage in fisheries areas including maritime cultural heritage and fund projects in these

areas. Under the EMFF, the Commission also supports the different maritime regional

strategies, namely the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the Atlantic Strategy and

the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, where the promotion of cultural

heritage is specifically addressed15 and promoted.

Under direct management, funding of €647 million is available including for the support

of projects under maritime cultural heritage.16

14 The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) promote the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and Integrated Maritime Policy (incl. promoting a balanced & inclusive territorial development of fisheries areas), with a budget of €57 billion in shared management (plus €647 million in direct management).

15 E.g. the Action Plan for a Maritime Strategy in the Atlantic Area: Delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive

growth (COM(2013) 279 final), where a specific objective of Priority 4 is to preserve and promote the Atlantic's cultural heritage. Also the Communication concerning the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (COM(2014) 357 final) highlights the cultural heritage of the region and encourages the diversification of the tourism offer.

16 Funding opportunities under EMFF direct management are available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/financial_assistance/index_en.htm

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12. ENVIRONMENT POLICY

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for the Environment (DG ENV)

12.1 EU policy / legislation

12.1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Directive

The Environmental Impact Asssessment (EIA) Directive, adopted in 1985, applies to the

assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. The

Directive refers, inter alia, to the need for a proper assessment of the effects of projects

on cultural heritage. On 16th April 2014, a Directive (2014/52/EU) was adopted,

amending the EIA Directive and further strengthening the cultural heritage dimension in

the Environmental Impact Assessment process. It provides that the environmental

impact assessment shall identify, describe and assess the direct and indirect significant

effects of a project on, inter alia, "material assets, cultural heritage and the landscape"

[Art.3.1 (d)].

12.1.2 Nature & Biodiversity

The EU Biodiversity Strategy17 aims to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems by

2020 and preserve Europe's natural capital. EU's nature legislation18, underpinning the

European ecological network of protected areas Natura 2000, is a key pillar of the

Strategy. There is increasing evidence of the close interrelationship and synergies

between Europe's natural and cultural capital, as set out in the Charter of Rome19. In that

context biodiversity and ecosystems, in particular within Natura 2000 sites, provide

significant cultural and recreational assets and associated socio-economic benefits,

including sustainable tourism. Following a scoping study on links between Natura 2000

17 COM (2011) 244)

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/strategy/index_en.htm 18 Birds 2009/147/EC and Habitats 92/43/EEC Directives 19 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2016540%202014%20INIT

Examples of community-led local development funded projects (2014-2020)

PL: A platform for fishermen to promote and sell their products was established in the

centre of Gdansk's old town by reviving the ancient tradition of the fish market.

UK: A project to help preserve and promote the local fishing communities of North

Devon through the production of 10 short films.

IT: An online radio launched to promote Mediterranean fisheries heritage, coastal

cultures and traditions in the Apulia region.

For more project examples see also the European Fisheries Areas Network (FARNET)

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and cultural sites20, a series of case studies have been carried out in order to further

explore those links and optimise the potential for synergies. The "Action Plan for nature,

people and the economy"21 includes actions aimed at strengthening links between natural

and cultural heritage, especially in the context of 2018 as European Year of Cultural

Heritage. In the context of the EU MAES initiative, methodologies are being developed to

map, assess and value cultural ecosystem services for the integration of these values

into accounting and reporting systems. Finally the initiative under the Strategy to

develop a Green Infrastructure in Europe22 offers opportunities for enhancing the

integration of natural and cultural heritage.

12.2 EU programmes / funding

A whole range of initiatives focusing on environmental issues like the Natura 2000

award23 and the European Green Capital Award, as well as various projects supported by

the LIFE programme (2014-2020) and again by the European Structural and Investment

Funds contribute to enhancing and preserving cultural heritage.

13. CITIZENSHIP

Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM)

13.1 Europe for Citizens programme

The Europe for Citizens programme (2014-2020) aims at contributing to the citizens’

understanding of the Union, its history and diversity and at fostering European citizenship

and improving conditions for civic and democratic participation at Union level. The

remembrance strand of the programme, focusing on keeping the memories of the past

alive as a means of moving beyond the past and building the future, is linked to cultural

heritage and history. Town-twinning projects also encompass activities related to cultural

heritage.

14. EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

Responsible DGs: Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation (EuropAid);

Directorate-General for Enlargement (DG ELARG),

14.1 Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries

In the enlargement context, the bilateral and regional cultural cooperation activities are

recognised as making a fundamental contribution to the promotion of European values

20http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/financing/docs/Scoping%20study%20N2000%20and%2

0culture.pdf 21 COM(2017) 198 final 22 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm 23 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/awards/

31

and intercultural dialogue. This is of particular relevance in the Western Balkans where,

in addition to fostering democratisation, reconciliation and respect for human rights,

culture contributes to the development of the local economy.

14.1.1 EU programmes / funding

Instrument for pre-accession assistance IPA and IPA II

The IPA offered financial assistance to candidate and potential candidate countries, with

an estimated €33 million dedicated to cultural heritage between 2007 and 2011. Its

successor, IPA II (2014-2020) builds on the results already achieved, including for

cultural heritage projects. In addition, funding for heritage purposes is also provided

through bilateral actions.

"Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan/Survey of the

Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH)" –

Joint Action with Council of Europe

Since 2003, the EC and the Council of Europe have conducted a joint action in South East

Europe: the "Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan/Survey of the Architectural and

Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH)" better known as "Ljubljana Process I". This project

developed a methodology to rehabilitate sites and contribute to economic development

and reconciliation. Participating countries were Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Bulgaria, Croatia,24 Kosovo25, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro,

Romania and Serbia.

After a successful first phase, a new operational framework was launched in 2011, the

"Ljubljana Process II. Rehabilitating our Common Heritage" with the agreement of the

Ministers of Culture of South East Europe. The project has been implemented by the

''Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society'' with the

financial support of the Instrument for Pre-Accession.

24 Croatia has been a Member State of the European Union since 1st of July 2013. 25 Under UNSCR 1244/99.

Examples of cultural heritage projects funded by IPA

AL- A project to support sustainable and integrated development of historical

heritage sites in the towns of Korça, Elbasan, Shkodra and Berat.

MK- A project to protect and improve access to the Old Bazaar in Skopje's old city.

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The second phase of the process, concluded in May 2014, laid the basis for the

sustainability of the rehabilitation processes by ensuring that they will be managed by

the countries themselves.

14.2 European Neighbourhood

Cooperation with European Neighbourhood partner countries in the East and in the South

on a regional basis, as well as cooperation among the partners themselves, is crucial. It

complements national assistance programmes, addresses challenges with a regional

dimension and promotes cooperation among partners on issues of mutual interest.

Projects are funded by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), the main financial

mechanism through which assistance is given to European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)

countries, plus Russia. For the period 2014-2020, ENI has a budget of €15.4 billion. The

vast majority of ENI funding is used for bilateral actions, but the instrument also

supports regional, Neighbourhood-wide and Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC)

programmes to complement bilateral cooperation. Due to its contribution to economic

and social development in the regions, the promotion of local culture and preservation of

cultural heritage is one of the ENI-CBC thematic objectives for the period.

Information on projects in the field of heritage can be found on the webpage of the info

centre.

14.3 Eastern Neighbourhood

14.3.1 EU policy / legislation

Cooperation in the cultural field, including heritage, is promoted in the context of the

Eastern Partnership –a joint initiative between EU countries and the Eastern European

Partner countries. It enables partner countries interested in moving towards the EU and

increasing political, economic and cultural links to do so. It is underpinned by a shared

commitment to international law and fundamental values – democracy, the rule of law

and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms – and to the market economy,

sustainable development and good governance.

As part of this framework, the "Tbilisi declaration", an outcome of the Eastern

Partnership Ministerial Conference on Culture held in June 2013 in Georgia, provides

confirmation from the Eastern Partners of their intention to pursue the reform and

modernisation of their cultural policies and to fully implement the 2005 UNESCO

Convention.

Moreover, in October 2013 Ukraine hosted a seminar on the implementation of the 2005

UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural

expressions in Lviv. The seminar proved to be instrumental in promoting regional

cooperation and exchange of national practices regarding the implementation of the

Convention, including from EU Member States.

14.3.2 EU programmes / funding

EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity 2015-2018

The EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme, implemented from 2015

to 2018, aims to support the cultural and creative sectors’ contribution to sustainable

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humanitarian, social and economic development in ENP Eastern countries. The budget of

the Programme is €42 million and focuses on four priorities: the development of

evidence-gathering mechanisms, capacity-building, raising awareness and providing

opportunities for international cultural cooperation. Archives, libraries and museums,

tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the creative arts and the audio-visual sector are

some of the subsectors included in the programme.

14.4 Southern Neighbourhood

14.4.1 EU policy / legislation

Cooperation in the cultural field, and particularly in cultural heritage, has been a

mainstay of Euro-Mediterranean relations since the launch of the Barcelona process in

1995. Central issues in regional cooperation have been the recognition of the

Mediterranean basin as a cradle and crossroads of civilisations, and the preservation and

enhancement of the shared cultural heritage.

The Euromed Heritage programme, launched in 1998, committed a total of €57 million to

fund partnerships between conservation experts and heritage institutions from the

countries of the region.

Culture was further defined as a priority in the 2008 Euro-Mediterranean Ministries of

Culture Conference in Athens. An outcome of the Conference was the adoption of the

Strategy for the development of Euro-Mediterranean cultural heritage: priorities from

Mediterranean countries (2007-2013), the first policy document allowing partner

countries to articulate their priorities on cultural heritage. Since then, many programmes

and initiatives on Euro-Mediterranean heritage have been implemented.

Currently, cultural heritage is addressed in the frame of the Media and Culture for

Development in the Southern Mediterranean Programme (2013-2017). With a total

budget of €17 million, the programme builds on the work of two former regional

programmes, Euromed Audiovisual and Euromed Heritage.

14.4.2 EU programmes / funding

Med Culture (2014-2018) is the cultural component of the Media and Culture for

Development in the Southern Mediterranean Programme (2013-2017), and aims at

assisting Southern Mediterranean partner countries in the development and improvement

of cultural policies and practices. Within the sub-programme, tangible and intangible

heritage projects are funded through SouthMed CV grants.

UNESCO-EU Cooperation in the Southern Mediterranean

region

The European Union and its delegations in the Southern Mediterranean Region actively

cooperated with UNESCO in the past years. The bi-lateral cooperation has been focused

mainly on cultural heritage. The EU supports UNESCO’s Action Plan to safeguard cultural

heritage in Syria, launched in 2014, with €246 million. Heritage-related activities are

also supported in Egypt and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The European Union has been collaborating with UNESCO through its regional

programmes in the Mediterranean, in particular the Euromed Heritage programme.

UNESCO was the leader of the Medliher project focusing on safeguarding the intangible

cultural heritage of the partner countries.

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14.5. Rest of the World

14.5.1 EU policy / legislation

EU Strategy for international cultural relations

In 2016, the Commission adopted the strategy for international cultural relations, in line

with the priority to make the EU a stronger global actor and as a means to improve

relations with partner countries.

The strategic vision to advance international cultural relations is also underpinned by the

Preparatory Action on Culture in EU External Relations, which highlighted the need to

implement a new model of cultural cooperation, based on co-operation and peer-to-peer

learning.

Reinforcing cooperation on cultural heritage is one of the three main objectives of the

strategy, focusing on the development of sustainable strategies for heritage protection

through training, skills development and knowledge transfer.

China

Cultural heritage has been identified as one of the three priority areas of cooperation in

the 2012 EU-China Joint Declaration on cultural cooperation. It is, in addition, one of the

three main areas covered by the mapping of the EU-China cultural and creative

landscape (2015), a study financed jointly by the EU and the Government of the People's

Republic of China.

As sustainable urbanisation is a priority area for research and innovation cooperation

between China and the EU, future collaboration is also foreseen in exploring natural and

cultural heritage-based solutions.

India

The preservation (and digitisation) of cultural heritage has been set as the priority of the

Policy Dialogue on Culture with India.

Brazil

Cultural heritage was one of the priority areas of the Joint Programme on Culture

between the European Commission and the Ministry of Culture of Brazil (2011-2014).

The programme included policy dialogue and exchange of expertise and practices for the

protection and promotion of cultural, natural and historical heritage.

14.5.2 EU programmes / funding

The financial instruments for development cooperation are currently undergoing a mid-

term review. However it is possible that cultural heritage may be funded as part of EU

cooperation with developing countries under the financial framework 2014-2020,

managed by DG International Cooperation and Development.

The Development Co-operation Instrument (DCI) for the period 2007-2013 was

composed of a wide range of geographic and thematic instruments, including the

35

“Investing in people” budget line, which aimed at supporting actions in the area of

human and social development, including culture and cultural heritage.

Example of a project funded under the Development Co-operation Instrument 2007-

2013:

Heritage Recovery and Cultural Development in Havana: Segundo Cabo Palace

(2010-2014)

This project contributes to the sustainable preservation of threatened heritage sites in

Old Havana for the benefit of all, and contributes to strengthening cultural and scientific

EU-Cuba relations (€11 million)

The DCI Global Goods and Challenges programme under its culture component 2014-

2020 aims to promote intercultural dialogue, and to stimulate economic growth through

the culture sector.

In the context of the European Development Fund (EDF), culture has always been part of

the EU-ACP partnership, featuring already in the early Lomé agreements.

The Cotonou Agreement between the EU and 79 countries from Africa, Caribbean and

Pacific foresees in article 27 the integration of the cultural dimension at all levels of

development cooperation, supporting the cultural industries and enhancing market

opportunities for cultural goods and services, and recognising the contribution of cultural

actors and networks to sustainable development. Many actions have been supported

under this umbrella, and particularly under the intra-ACP programme, actions such as:

Examples of projects funded under the Development Co-operation Instrument

2014-2020:

Intercultural dialogue and culture (2017-2022)

The global objective of this programme is to promote intercultural dialogue,

cultural diversity and respect for equal dignity of all people in the project countries.

Measures to preserve the heritage of cultural and religious diversity may also be

eligible (€97 million).

Yemen (2017-2021, geographical programme of DCI)

The objective of this programme is to promoting livelihood opportunities for urban youth through preservation and restoration of cultural heritage (€10 million).

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ACP Cultures+ programme (2012-17)

The overall objective of the Culture+ programme (€30 million) is to increase the

contribution of cultural activity sectors in the fight against poverty and the socio-

economic and sustainable development of the partner countries, through targeted

structuring of sectors and a better circulation of works and dissemination of culture in

ACP countries, also preserving cultural diversity. Actions supported under the ongoing

programme involve cultural heritage, including film heritage. Another interesting example

is a project in Niger focussing on earth-based architecture, using local materials and

traditional techniques.

The ACP Culture+ programme has improved the production capacity, technical skills and

quality of the works, supporting 55 projects, involving over 200 operators.

Other projects financed from the EDF include actions, such as:

Endangered heritage in the Northern regions of Mali:

safeguarding, reconstruction, rehabilitation, restoration

and revitalisation (2014-2018)

This project implemented by UNESCO aims at supporting the government to rehabilitate

cultural heritage (mosques, mausoleums) and safeguard old manuscripts in the region of

Timbuktu after the conflict in the country in 2012-2013. Main activities include

assessment and inventories, rebuilding and conserving endangered heritage, capacity

building, ensuring the conservation of old manuscripts to reinforce social cohesion, and

as a factor of reconciliation and sustainable peace. Total EU contribution is €11 million,

ongoing works include the restoration of three museums including the main museum of

Timbuktu.

Promoting Heritage for Ethiopia's Development -Pro-He-

Dev, €10,000,000, 10th EDF (2013-2020)

Pro-He-Dev is a programme which acknowledges the role of heritage and culture as a

key element of sustainable development. It supports culture to further Ethiopia's cultural

and socio-economic development as well as protecting and safeguarding its heritage for

the future wellbeing of the nation. The Pro-He-Dev project works around the country in

three inter-linked clusters of activities.

The first cluster is focussed on strengthening the capacities of the Ministry of Culture and

Tourism and improving the conservation and promotion of the rich paleontological

heritage. In partnership with UNESCO, the Omo and Hadar paleontological sites will be

further protected and an appraisal will be conducted with the view to establishing a

future paleontological museum in Addis Ababa.

The second cluster consists of providing specific support for regional development

projects based on local cultural resources.

The third cluster aims to strengthen two creative industries: music and image/audio-

visual arts, for example through a grant for the Yared School of Music and grants to

promote audio-visual arts.

10th EDF Support to Culture, Tanzania (2011 -2017)

Under this programme €10 million was provided for a range of projects to support the

development of cultural heritage and creative industries in Tanzania. Key outcomes of

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the programme included supporting jobs and livelihoods through heritage preservation

and promotion through developing tourism and associated economic activities.

The project 'Moving Tanzania’ implemented by the Kilimanjaro Film Institute developed a

hub of knowledge and training for professional documentary makers and cultural

storytellers to help them to reach new markets.

Under the Cultural Heritage, financing is provided to conserve historic buildings and

document and conserve cultural heritage. For example, Christ Church Cathedral in

Zanzibar was restored using traditional methods of building and preservation, and a

museum detailing the history of the slave trade and the resulting influences on modern

Zanzibari culture has been installed. Under the theme of 'performed heritage', the project

'Traditional Music and Dance Preservation and Promotion in Northern Tanzania' has built

an impressive Community Art Space which provides a place to document, exchange, and

create cultural performances and services related to traditional dance and music in

Tanzania.

The Dar es Salaam Centre for Architectural Heritage - DARCH! has restored the Old

Boma, possibly its oldest building. The restoration of the building and advocacy work

have helped to arrest the destruction of buildings in the historic city centre and raise

awareness on the intrinsic and economic value of historic buildings through tourism. The

building is now the joint offices of the city and the project staff, and will house a museum

exhibition on the history of the city and offer walking tours of the city centre to raise

funds for ongoing advocacy work.

Protecting cultural heritage and diversity in complex

emergencies for stability and peace, Instrument

contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), 2017-2018

The Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) established in 2014 is an EU

instrument to support security initiatives and peace-building activities in partner

countries. The IcSP focuses on crisis response, crisis preparedness, conflict prevention

and peace-building. It can provide short-term assistance, for example in countries where

a crisis is unfolding, or long-term support to global and trans-regional threats.

This measure to the amount of €1,070 million will be implemented by UNESCO in Iraq,

Libya, Syria and Yemen. The project aims at enhancing UNESCO’s capacity to respond

more rapidly to the needs associated with the protection of culture and diversity in

complex emergencies, to strengthen the positive role that culture can play in promoting

resilient, culturally diverse societies and in developing more sustainable approaches to

inclusive peace and stability in transitional contexts. It will provide for rapid assessments

and immediate safeguarding measures of cultural assets that have been targeted by

conflict or disaster, and it will strengthen the capacity to coordinate and respond. It aims

to reduce the vulnerability of populations whose culture and heritage have been targeted

or affected in complex emergencies, in particular in the aftermath of situations that could

qualify as “cultural cleansing. Protecting diversity within conflict and complex

emergencies means the safeguarding of cultural heritage in all its forms and expressions,

including intangible traditions, practices and expressions that define a community.

a

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